Faraday Optical Rotation Documents

Main Document

In this experiment students measure the effects of a magnetic field on the polarization of light (laser beam) propagating through, or reflected from, a solid transparent medium. The effect can be explained in terms of a simple model that relates the "optical activity" of the medium to the applied magnetic field. Students learn about

Prof. Paul R. Berman of The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, has recently published (March 2010) an American Journal of Physics article on three different calculations of the Optical Faraday Rotation (please see link below.) Students are strongly encouraged to study this article.